Quick Shots: Packers offseason plans should include Bears' Briggs

Friday

The Green Bay Packers could go into next season with basically the same roster, plus draft picks, and be fine.

The Green Bay Packers could go into next season with basically the same roster, plus draft picks, and be fine.

With Ted Thompson as their general manager, that’s rather likely. He’s never been big on free agency, even though the Packers’ pockets are overflowing with money (roughly $24 million under the 2008 salary cap).

He was quoted near midseason that he might have been a little conservative in free agency, so maybe that will make him go after a name player or two.

If it’s one, Steelers guard Alan Faneca should be the target. If it’s two, seriously, go after Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs. If Darren Sharper and Ryan Longwell can go from Green Bay to Minnesota, why can’t Briggs stay in the division?

Thompson saw how close his team was to reaching the Super Bowl this year. He saw where, and why, it fell short. He had to see how much help New England got from free agency, and realize adding veteran talent to his mix could be beneficial.

Thompson likes to retain his own players, so that’s a plus. That means safety Atari Bigby, wideout Ruvell Martin and defensive tackle Colin Cole could be back. Tight end Donald Lee already signed an extension.

Defensive tackle Corey Williams, the team’s top free agent, is going to be too expensive. That partially explains why Thompson drafted Justin Harrell in the first round this year.

The guess here is Thompson will be more active in free agency than last year, when only reserve corner Frank Walker was added. The Packers will be contenders in the weak NFC, but can’t stand pat.

One less Packer problem

At least Green Bay won’t have to deal with a trend that the Bears had to this season — making the playoffs following a Super Bowl loss.

Six of the last seven Super Bowl losers did not reach the postseason the following year. Only Seattle did so in 2006. The Packers might have had that concern had they beaten the Giants, because the unbeaten Patriots would have been big-time favorites.

Bigby’s fishing line

Packer safety Atari Bigby was asked what it’s like to hit an offensive player hard.

“It’s like catching a fish,” he said. “You can just feel him fighting for his life. It’s a great feeling. You can actually feel the electricity in his body. I’m telling you, it’s hard to describe, but it’s great.

“So for guys who have never had a big hit, go out and catch a big fish.”

Super Bowl forecast

Sure hope the commercials are good; the game’s not likely to be.

New England will beat the New York Giants 31-17. The Patriots aren’t going to come this close to perfection and fall short now.

Still, with the Giants having won an NFL-record 10 consecutive road games, there is a reason to watch. Plus they played the Pats tough in the regular-season finale. And they haven’t had an offensive turnover in three playoff games.

So, yeah, there might be a reason to watch what’s shown in between commercials after all.